hitelaw's vague assurances that all would be
well, that he would soon be restored to her, were not enough to set her
mind at ease.

Ellen had not the courage to tell her the truth. It was better that
Gilbert Fenton should do that, she thought. He who knew all the
circumstances of Mr. Holbrook's journey, and the probabilities as to his
return, would be so much better able to comfort and reassure his wife.

"He will come to-day, I have no doubt," Ellen said to herself on the
morning after her husband's funeral.

She told Marian how she had written to Mr. Fenton on the day before, in
order to avoid the agitation of a surprise, should he appear at the
Grange without waiting to announce his coming. Nor was she mistaken as to
the probability of his speedy arrival. It was not long after noon when
there came a loud peal of the bell that rang so rarely. Ellen ran herself
to the gate to admit the visitor. She had told him of her husband's death
in her last letter, and her widow's weeds were no surprise to him. He was
pale, but very calm.

"She is well?" he asked eagerly.

"Yes, sir, she is as well as one could look for her to be, poor dear,
after what she has gone through. But she is much changed since last you
saw her. You must prepare yourself for that, sir. And she is very anxious
about her husband. I don't know how she'll take it, when she hears that
he has gone to America."

"Yes, that is a bad business, Mrs. Whitelaw," Gilbert answered gravely.
"He was not in a fit state to travel, unfortunately. He was only just
recovering from a severe illness, and was as weak as a child."

"O dear, O dear! But you won't tell Mrs. Holbrook that, sir?"

"I won't tell her more than I can help; of course I don't want to alarm
her; but I am bound to tell her some portion of the truth. You did her
husband a great wrong, you see, Mrs. Whitelaw, when you suspected him of
some share in this vile business. He has shown himself really devoted to
her. I thank God that it has proved so. And now tell me more about this
affair; your letter explains so little."

"I will tell you all, sir."

They walked in the garden for about a quarter of an hour before Gilbert
went into the house. Eager as he was to see Marian, he was still more
anxious to hear full particulars of that foul plot of which she had been
made the victim. Ellen Whitelaw told him the story very plainly, making
no attempt to conceal her husband's guilty part in the business; and th